The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-15
EvICTIONS IN TEXAS,
eErrLERs SQUEEZED OUT OF HOME
BY AN ENGLISH SYNDICATE.
Threatened with Criminal Prosecution
uniess They Yield Gov Ross APP
pealcd to for Protection An EXPOSE
ton Of Situation.

Democrat special says. several days ago
rumor came from The Panhandle that the
manager Of the Rockingham ranch com-
pany had temporarily commanded n large
number of settlers, living just beyond the
line Of Wheeler county, in Collingsworlh,
to leave their homes and get out OF his
ranch, which he has just secured from the
State. The arbitrary nature OF the alleged
demand caused many to doubt that il had
been made as reported, hut today the
story was confirmed by two OF the settlers
who are affected by it, aud who visited
Moheetie 10 consult u lawyer aud ascertain
the extent Of their lcgil rights. They
state tina, on Monday Mr.. Drew. manager
of the Rockingham company, visited the
homes of all the settlers ith his foreman,
who, he said, accompanied him ~ wit
ness, and notified them thai they must get
out immediately; that ~ had leased
the land and had been paying rent
OH it TO the State ever since the
4th Of July, and that ii they didn't lcavcat
once he would cause them all Ia br prose
cuted criminally in Travis county. Mcssrs.
Boyd and Jones, the gentlemen who
corroborated the report, were requested by
their co-settlers to investigate the matter
and find out whether the company could
eject them under its lease. All are very
indignant and determined Ia fight to the
end Of the law the attempt Of the company
TO expel them from their homes. The
contest between the company and the set
tiers, which has reached u Climax in the
obnoxious order referred Ia, has been going
on with more or less bitterness fur iour years.
Both came upon the contested ground
about the same time, when the Rocking
chair company bought the cattle and
''rangc privileges" Of Conkle and Lyth.
THE ELM CREEK CoiCNY.
During the flush times Of the cattle in
dustry, in 1855, the nucleus of u settle
ment ON Elm creek and the salt fork Of
Red river had been formed. Soon after
ward the company bought Of the New
York and Texas land company 237 Sec
tons Of land within their rnigr. n inn
mediately fenced this, with all the alter
mating sections OF school land. The tract
thus incloscd is about twenty miles wide
by thirty miles long, including some OF
the most fertile and bcst walcrcd lands in
Collingsworth and Wheeler counties, II
abr intent was to squeeze out the settlers.
il proved futile, for they not only held on
with dogyed pcrsistcncy, but continued tn
pFow in numbers. The abundance Of
wood and water made Il u desirable Local
ton for n colony. Comfortable habita-
tions were erected, little farms wcrc start
cd, and the work OF improvement carried
ON with n will which indicated u con-
tcmptnous disregard OF the high wire fence
stretched lar around on either side. The
agents of the company iunied and ireltcd.
hui the settlers were inyinciblc. They
claimed an equality Of right Un the public
lands with the English company, and held
on, in the hope that the wutrrcd lands
uIon which they had located would one
day bc placed upon the market, thus en-
sbling them TO purchase their homes.
COLLISION wITn TIN sgrrLgIr.
. The cornpany, however, never became
.rcconcilcd to their presence. Petty col
liSions were frequent, and IN the days
went by, the relations between the two
ncis Of occupants Of the big pasture be-.
came more strained. The company made
an effort In 1884 to lcasc the entire tuci,
Joining in the celebrated Accent tender
which wis refused by the land board. In
1851, the manager Of the company wrote 4
letter 10 the land board, stating that
number Of parties were tuSlassing upon
the school lands On Elm and salt fork
and requesting that some steps he taken "a
eject them. The letter WIS referred :,
District Attorney WOodman, OF this dis
trict. who said that ~ the company has
inclu@d and wis using over 10000 acr-
of school lands, free Of chang, while th,
settlers wcu only occupying n few sections
he didn't think the company, nj least, Ia,
n right 10 complain. lie declined 4
uru~ccutc the settlers. aud minated tina
II any proceedings OF that sori were begun
the company would figure ~ defendants
The NAMES of the %sctilcn, who have bcci
ordered Ia get ont and the number oil eat
lie approximately they have ON tho rang
arr ~ follows Georgc w. Boyd, 100
William Jones, 40, Henry llulstcin, ~
=. X. Holmes, -; 4. J. Allen, go; ). II
Vaughn, . go J. Boyd, 200. Doc Adam
son, ~; Hawkins, 100; y. Firing. II, Ia
Ellis, 100, jim McCmckcn, 20. McCmckcr
~: Frank Allen, ~, Leigh Smcdley, II
Bill Sm1llcy, 90 HOMES, John Cpsswel
200 cattle. Tom Nicely, Al, &. Clifton, II
r.. Montgomery, IS; j. Lyon, 200 How
Powers, 10.
Tho following particshave no cattle; A
+. Spohorl, John SpoilOrd, Aaron Bccl
Henry Willmot, $. A. AdaiusDn, and Uh
Cain.
GOV. ROSS APPEALED TO.
Messr. Jones and Boyd. the REPRESENT
tiycs Of the scttlcr who went 10 Mobcct
60 investigate their rights, have write
the following letter 10 Gov. Roe-;
FHon. a. T. Ra~. Governor, Austin. Tex
Dear Sir undersigned desire toca
your attention 90 the condition 81 allni
In Collingrwurih county. There arc nhol
thirty families OF actual settlers locai,
upon scho0l lands. principally upon III,
creek and Salt fork Of Red river, IN e.
linpsworh county, most of which la
small lunches Of cattle, numbering fro
ton Ia 800 head. We have settled up
tbes, lands in good faith, with the view
securing homes by ultimate purchase fro
the State, aud with that intent have III
permanent and valuable improvement
sucb 10 houses, wells, fences, etc. II
length of timc Of our settlements rang
from one 90 four yearS, with but lew 9
cptiunz. Al Of the settlers have sm
tracts Of land fenced and In cultiyaiio
upon which they have depended lnw
for slSienancc. Tho lands IN question Q
within the range oi the kockmg-oh
ranch company, n corporation charter
by Gpat Britain, which has purchased I
nr;vaie lands alternating with the sch.
SECTIONS, for four ycan. This compa
has occupied and bad fenced a tmci
ia sections, g03, 800 acres, Of which
owned hut onc.hali, the balance being
property Of the State. During I
pperioi II has paid no rental 10
State. 4 few days ago each and
al The attlcp referred to were motif
by ono John Drew, manager OF the 10
ing-chair ranch company, that the com